Guest Post: Lime-Coconut Cupcakes

ByBluebonnet Baker
42 Comments

Jamie and I have been friends for a long time, and as far as I'm concerned, she's an artist. The cupcake may be her canvas of choice, frosting her paint, but she knocks it out of the park with every creation. I'm so grateful to her for offering to cover B&B while I'm away. She's one in a million. -Amber
 
Hey, Bluebonnets & Brownies readers, I’m going to fill in for Amber today while she is spending time with her family.

If you read My Baking Addiction, you may already know that I am a bit of a cupcake maniac. In my opinion, they are pretty much dessert perfection. Not only are the flavor combinations infinite, but they’re also kind of grab and go, which is always a plus when you’re entertaining a crowd. And that mound of frosting - oh yeah, I love me some frosting.

After purchasing a ginormous bag of limes from Costco and having no where to store them, I had a bit of buyer’s remorse. While normal people regret buying shoes, watches and fancy bed linens, I regret buying limes. Maybe I shouldn’t admit that out loud - kind of pathetic, right?

After trying to shove the limes in several places without success, I decided to toss them on the counter in a basket and claim they were summer counter decor. They looked quite lovely for about a day and then started to look a little homely, so I decided to go on a little lime baking binge and these Lime-Coconut Cupcakes were one the creations.

The cake recipe is adapted from Ina Garten and ranks as one of my top five favorite cupcake recipes ever. It’s light, flavorful and perfectly coconut-y. Slather on some lime infused cream cheese frosting and a sprinkling toasted coconut and you’ll pretty much have the perfect summer dessert.

Lime-Coconut Cupcakes

yield | 24 cupcakes

Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
2 cups sugar
zest of 3 limes
¾ pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
6 eggs at room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
7 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut

For the frosting:
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
zest of two limes
1 ½ pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted

For the Garnish:
7 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut; lightly toasted

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the sugar and lime zest and mix together with your fingertips until the sugar is moistened and fragrant.
3. In the bowl of an stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, taking care to scrape the bowl. Add the vanilla and mix until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In 3 alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in 7 ounces (half) of the shredded coconut.
4. Fill each prepared cupcake liner to the top with batter. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely.
5. While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting.
6. In the bowl of an stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and lime zest until well combined. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth. If frosting is too thin, gradually add in a little more confectioners’ sugar until you reach the desired texture.
7. Frost the cupcakes and finish with a sprinkling of lightly toasted coconut.

Notes
-This recipe is adapted from Ina Garten via Food Network.
-Lemon zest can easily be swapped for the lime zest.
-This recipe makes a lot of frosting, so if you aren't fond of a lot of frosting on your cupcakes, you may want to start with half a batch.
-Store cupcakes in refrigerator. Remove to room temperature one hour before serving.

[author-box-2][wpurp-searchable-recipe]Guest Post: Lime-Coconut Cupcakes - - - [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]

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42 Comments

  2. Is it possible to love Jamie more then I already did???? These are wonderful. I must beg her to make me some! 🙂

    1. 🙂 No need to beg, Amanda! Name the time and place - I'll bring the cupcakes, you bring the cake!

  3. Adore Ina's Coconut Cupcakes. Adding lime? Can't wait to try. Thanks for sharing.

  4. I for one am glad that you went on a lime-buying binge, because now we have these fabulous cupcakes to enjoy! And yes I'm blaming you for getting that stuck in my head. 😉

    1. I have been singing it all day! It's starting to drive me a little nuts, especially since I know like 2 lines of the entire song.

  5. I adore Ina's coconut cupcakes. With lime? Oh my, going to have to try these. Thanks for sharing.

  6. Great guest post and those cupcakes must be delicious!
    I'm still singing, "you put the lime in the coconut...". 😉

  8. Jamie and Amber, these look so awesome! I want to try these! The icing look like little pillows of yummieness on top of the cupcakes. 🙂

  10. I'm like you, I spot a bag of limes and I'm tempted to buy them (especially if it's a deal). Then I get them home...and what to do with them? Often, like you, they land up mostly being table decor (which actually isn't so bad).

    These lime coconut cupcakes are beautiful and so tempting with the summer weather right now. Perfect summer treat! Thanks!

  11. Oh these cupcakes must be so lovely and exotic and summery! I wish there's a picture or two though, =)

    1. Sarah--
      You should be able to see the photo as the first thing in the post.
      --Jamie

  13. I love the lime and coconut flavor combo, so these will have to be a must-try for me...thank you for sharing them!!

  14. Amber - You are too sweet, thanks for the sweet and flattering intro!

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